Would I Change Anything?

Each human has a unique experience in life. Since the beginning of time–since Adam and Eve–people have been choosing not to believe God and His Word. That first act of sin, was based on the temptation presented in one simple statement by the enemy, “Surely God did not mean…” The answer to this temptation? “Surely I know better than God.” To this day, EVERY sin, EVERY failure to live up to God’s standard comes from this same basic messed up belief. This belief brings nothing but grief and pain, and decay. It is the decay of this world and of every individual human.

I am old, I am decaying! OK…I am not THAT old. I have however, lived a while. My life has been one of many joys and blessings, and much pain. Life has been full of storms and trials, people have hurt me in many ways, I have hurt others, I am an imperfect person surrounded by imperfect people. I have damaged my body by having an eating disorder, I have damaged my soul by falling short of God’s perfect plan for my life, others have damaged my emotions and thought processes by perpetrating sins against me.

I have often reflected on what kind of woman I could have become, and I know I could be a huge mess, full of sin and hatefulness and failure. I know that very truly my life is a real reflection of the phrase, “There but for the grace of God, go I”. I give full credit to God for all of the good that is in me. By nature, I am nothing but evil and decay. By God, I am redeemed. In my decay, I am made beautiful in the eyes of the creator of all, my intimate Daddy, God.

Even in this, many would assume that I would go back and change sins that were committed against me, if only given a chance. But I would not, never, none of it! Why on Earth would anyone choose to walk through the trials of life if they could be avoided? I have several reasons.

First, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I have a loving Father in Heaven who holds me in His hands. He has had a perfect plan for my life since before even the foundations of the Earth were formed. He desires only good for me and will always use every part of my life–if I choose to follow Him–to bring glory to Him.

Second, I know that He will never give me more than I can handle. Everything that I experience, good or bad, He gives me the strength to handle.

Last, and very important to why I would NEVER change anything, is that it has made me who I am and I have seen God use it many times to help others who are hurting. I have seen him repeatedly use my pain to bring glory to Him, for it is only through Him that I can truly be OK with sins committed against me. It is only through Him, that I can walk in forgiveness and grace toward the very people who commit those sins. It is only through Him, that I can be whole and healthy and not have become a completely different person.

It is only through God, that each and every one of us can truly become beautiful in spite of the decay of this world.

©2001 Blog post by Teri Gunn; Photo by Kylah Gunn, edited by Teri Gunn.

Super M

The Farmall Super M tractor was manufactured from 1952-1954. It performed a lot of work that previously could only be done by a team of horses. All of the Farmall tractors were built to last.

This particular tractor is on display at the McMinnville,Oregon site of the Yamhill County Historical Museum. Harvest Fest is held there annually  in early August. This photo was taken during the 2009 event. I am drawn to the simplicity of the logo design and the texture and rust created by years of hard work.

Teri Gunn

Photo ©2009 Teri Gunn.

Sit Awhile

While shooting at an old run down fruit stand near where I grew up, I was amazed to find this old leather chair. It sat just inside the fruit stand, with no noticeable reason for being there. It has decayed right along with its surroundings. The rich textures of the chair and the building around it intrigued me. Even though I would not sit in the chair, it gave me a strange feeling of comfort. I wanted to sit in it. I wanted it to be just as comfortable as it once had been. It beaconed me, “come and sit awhile with me.”

Teri Gunn

Photo ©2010 Teri Gunn. Taken near Dayton, Oregon.

Flexibility

A spring flexes and gives when it is pulled on while still maintaining a bit of resistance to how far it can be stretched. If it gives too much or too little it will not function as it was intended. It also retains its shape and returns to normal when the pressure on it is released.

As humans, we would do well to be like the spring. Pressure and stresses come into all of our lives and we must choose how to respond to it. If we are weak, we will be stretched too far leaving us unable to function in the way we were meant to. Being too rigid can have the same effect. Both weakness and rigidity will also have an effect on those around us and may stop them from functioning properly as well. Being properly flexible allows us to give to others while not being destroyed by the pressures of life.

Teri Gunn

Photo ©2009 Teri Gunn. Taken in McMinnville, Oregon.

Usefulness

Today is the first day of a whole new journey. I am not new, not shiny, but rusty, cracked and worn. I still have work to do and my past with all of its wear and tear, will not be a hinderance, but will actually be what makes my new journey possible.

This blog is dedicated to all things that are no longer in the same state they once were. They are old, feeling the effects of a lifetime of living. Some would say they are no longer useful and have nothing more to offer. I say they are beautiful, and though they may not be able to perform the duties they once did, they now have a new usefulness. They may educate us about the past, or be repurposed for something completely new and interesting, or they may just bring a bit of beauty into our lives.

Teri Gunn

Photo ©2009 Teri Gunn. Taken in Evanston, Wyoming.